Lawyer Is Impetus for 'Cash Mob' Phenomenon

A Cleveland class action lawyer who wanted to counter the destructiveness of flash mobs is spreading the news about a related idea: cash mobs.

Andrew Samtoy, an associate at Dworken & Bernstein, has just a few rules for cash mobs, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. A group of people descends on a local business, each person has to spend at least $20 while meeting three new people, and everyone has to have fun. Afterwards, participants go to a local bar.

Saturday was designated International Cash Mob Day, and shoppers in as many as 200 locations in the United States and Europe participated, Samtoy told Reuters.

Samtoy came up with the idea last year when he was talking to friends at Cleveland Bridge Builders, a leadership training program for young professionals, the Plain Dealer says. Human resources manager Marty Mordarski though of the catchy “cash mobs” name.

Samtoy didn’t know it, but a Buffalo blogger had already organized a cash mob. But Samtoy helped popularize the concept, plugging it to some 1,400 Facebook friends and on a new website.

He tells the Plain Dealer he’s surprised the idea caught on. “I thought it was a good idea but, look, I have a lot of ideas,” he said.